A Venezuelan man was early Wednesday nabbed allegedly with a gun and ammunition in his possession.

Guyana Police Force spokesman, Ivelaw Whittaker said police acted on information about 4 AM and found a .38 revolver and 12 matching rounds.

The arrest took place at Eteringbang Landing. He is assisting police with their investigations, Whittaker added.

Police Commissioner, Henry Greene told Demerara Waves Online News

( www.demwaves.com ) that the man entered Guyana illegally and was carrying what appeared to be a Venezuelan identification card.

Commissioner Greene said it was too early to say whether the man or the gun might have been involved or used respectively in any criminal activity.

There has been an upsurge in gun-crimes in the now lucrative ‘gold bush’ where the precious yellow metal is being mined and sold for more than US$1,500 an ounce.

The trafficking of small arms and ammunition linked to the drug-trade is also prevalent across Guyana's porous borders, particularly with Brazil- a major producer of Taurus handguns.

Assault rifles and shotguns are also bartered for drugs and used in the protection of drugs and criminals traversing the border.